Tim Bradley Rejects Usyk As An All-Time Great – ‘Are You Kidding Me?’

December 25, 2024

2 months

Tim Bradley Rejects Usyk As An All-Time Great

Tim Bradley has shut down suggestions that Oleksandr Usyk is an all-time great.

Usyk defeated Fury for the second time to retain his unified heavyweight titles. He won the fight more convincingly than the first with a unanimous decision. He outlanded Fury with 179 punches compared to 144, with all three judges scoring it 116-112. The win took Uysk’s record to 23-0. He has won an Olympic gold and is a two-weight undisputed champion following his feat at cruiserweight.

That has put Usyk into the conversation for one of the best fighters ever. But Bradley was not convinced. He questioned Usyk’s lack of fights at heavyweight, which was just seven. He beat Anthony Joshua, Fury, and Daniel Dubois during this period. All three have won world titles and are considered the best in the division. However, Bradley was not ready to put Usyk into that conversation.

Bradley Reacts

“First of all, I’m not even going to talk about the fight right now, but all this ‘All time’ great [stuff] that’s going on. All Time great, are you kidding me? Man, look. Recency bias. Just because he beat the two best heavyweights [Fury and Anthony Joshua] does not make him an all-time great. Usyk, he is NOT an all-time great. Y’all need to stop with that. He’s literally had seven fights. Give guys in the heavyweight division. I understand that he has accolades. He cleaned out the division at cruiserweight. I get that. Now, he comes to heavyweight. I wouldn’t say he cleaned out, but he beat the two best guys in the division,” Bradley said

Nevertheless, fighters can only beat whoever is put in front of them. Vasiliy Lomachenko equally became a three-weight world champion by winning belts from 126 to 135 pounds in a quick manner. He never became undisputed like Usyk but is still considered one of the best. Usyk has also developed a reputation for beating fighters in their backyards. His wins over Tony Bellew, Murat Gassiev and Joshua proved that.

Is Usyk A Great?

Usyk has also shown he can win on neutral grounds, having beaten Joshua and Fury in Saudi. Usyk’s win over Fury was all the more remarkable given his physical disadvantages. He reportedly had a six-inch reach disadvantage, while Usyk came in over 50 pounds lighter in the Fury rematch. Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, has said the Ukrainian has nothing else to prove. Spencer Oliver and Gareth. A. Davis also agree.

“Without a doubt, Usyk’s in the top five of the greatest heavyweights for what he’s achieved. He’s cleaned up the modern era. He’s beat Daniel Dubois, he’s beat Fury twice, beat Anthony Joshua twice. “Undisputed cruiserweight, undisputed heavyweight, not forgetting the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight titles as well. The guy has done everything. You’ve got to let him have his moment,” Oliver said

“For me, he belongs alongside the likes of Evander Holyfield. It’s a really good comparison,” Davis stated